Academic Catalog
Political Science (B.A.) 2023-2024 Catalog Year
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Political Science and Public Administration
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program in Political Science is designed to provide students with the analytical tools needed to address political issues at both the national and international levels, as well as to achieve their career objectives. Using a variety of innovative approaches, it provides students with the knowledge and skills essential for dealing with the emerging trends reshaping the political landscape. A baccalaureate degree in Political Science can aid a student's career pursuits in local, state, and federal government, research and lobbying for business and non-profit organizations, and public interest work for community service organizations. It also provides an excellent foundation for students who intend to pursue graduate study in law, business, or the social sciences. Students can choose a general B.A. Political Science degree (with no concentration), a B.A. Political Science degree with an International Relations and Comparative Politics Concentration, or a B.A. Political Science degree with a Law and Politics Concentration.
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- Attend an orientation session.
- Sign an Advising Agreement document.
In addition to the program requirements, students must:
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits.
- Complete a minimum of 48 of the 120 credits at the upper division (3000-4999 level).
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- Satisfy the College-Level Skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
- Satisfy the Service Learning requirement. See: https://www.fgcu.edu/studentlife/servicelearning/.
- Satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement.
- Satisfy the residency requirement: 30 of the last 60 credits must be completed at FGCU.
- Complete the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Program Requirements
-
FGCU General Education Program (https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/)
To prevent or minimize excess hours, select general education courses that satisfy common prerequisite requirements for your intended major.
- Common Prerequisites
A minimum grade of C is required in each course
FGCU Course: Any two introductory Political Science courses with the prefixes of CPO, INR, or POS (6 credits).
The following are suggested courses:
CPO 2001 Intro to Comparative Politics (3)
INR 2015 Global Studies (3)
POS 2041 American Nat’l Government (3)
POS 2112 State & Local Govt & Politics (3)
Acceptable Substitute: POSX000-X999 or INRX000-X999 or CPOX000-X999 - Required Courses in the Major (15 credits)
A minimum grade of C is required in each course
CPO 3003 Comparative Politics (3)
INR 3003 Theories of Int'l Relations (3)
POS 3043 Amer. Political Institutions (3)
POS 3703 Intro to Pol Science Research (3)
POS 4936 Senior Seminar (3) - Restricted Electives/Concentration (21 credits)
A minimum grade of C is required in each course
Select 9 upper division (3000-4999 level) credits with the prefix CPO, INR, PAD (except PAD 4343C), POS, POT, or PUP. A maximum of 6 credits can be applied from the "Additional Electives" category.
Additional Electives:
CPO 4906 Ind Study in Comp Politics (3)
IDH 4945 Honors in Washington (3-6)
INR 3955 Overseas Study (1-3)
INR 4910 Directed Independent Study (3)
POS 4905 Independent Study (3)
POS 4941 Political Science Internship (3-6)
POS 4942 Washington Center Internship (3-6)
POT 4906 Ind Study in Political Theory (3)
Courses taken to satisfy required courses in the major cannot be counted as electives. Courses taken in one elective category cannot be used to satisfy another elective category.
No Concentration Noted on Transcript
Select 12 credits from the following elective courses.
CPO 3034 Politics of Developing Nations (3)
CPO 3143 European Politics (3)
CPO 3303 Latin American Politics (3)
CPO 3403 Politics of the Middle East (3)
CPO 3731 Comparative Democratization (3)
CPO 3760 Religion & Politics (3)
CPO 4062 Comparative Judicial Politics (3)
CPO 4514 Asian Politics (3)
CPO 4774 The Politics of Extremism (3)
CPO 4930 Special Topics Comp Politics (3)
INR 4061 International Armed Conflicts (3)
INR 4075 International Human Rights (3)
INR 4303 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)
INR 4333 International Security (3)
INR 4502 International Organizations (3)
INR 4703 International Political Econ (3)
INR 4930 Special Topics Intl Relations (3)
PAD 3810 State & Local Public Admin (3)
PAD 4232 Grant Writing & Administration (3)
PAD 4253 Community/Economic Development (3)
PAD 4332 Strategic Analysis & Planning (3)
PAD 4351 Environmental Governance (3)
PAD 4603 Administrative Law (3)
POS 3175 Southern Politics & Civ Rights (3)
POS 3250 Political Communication (3)
POS 3270 Political Campaigns/Elections (3)
POS 3272 Politics & the Citizen (3)
POS 3283 Judicial Process (3)
POS 3411 The Modern Presidency (3)
POS 3424 Legislative Process (3)
POS 3691 Law, Politics, and Society (3)
POS 4070 Race, Ethnicity, & Politics (3)
POS 4072 Women in Politics & Govt (3)
POS 4152 Urban Politics and Problems (3)
POS 4284 Politics of the Judiciary (3)
POS 4604 Con Law-Civil Liberties (3)
POS 4614 Con Law-Institutional Powers (3)
POS 4931 Spec Topics in Political Sci. (3)
POT 3003 Political Theorists (3)
POT 3075 Culture and Politics (3)
POT 3303 Ideology & Propaganda (3)
POT 3501 Politics, Ethics, & Pol Theory (3)
POT 4204 American Political Thought (3)
POT 4514 Theories of Political Violence (3)
POT 4932 Sp Topics -Politics/Humanities (3)
PUP 3040 State & Local Public Policy (3)
PUP 4004 Policymaking & Administration (3)
PUP 4206 Int'l Environmental Policy (3)
PUP 4603 Politics & Policy in Medicine (3)
PUP 4712 Problems of Market & Govt. (3)
PUP 4930 Special Topics-Public Policy (3)
International Relations and Comparative Politics Concentration
Select 12 credits from the following elective courses. A minimum of 6 credits must be selected from the concentration’s CPO- and/or INR-prefix courses.
CPO 3034 Politics of Developing Nations (3)
CPO 3143 European Politics (3)
CPO 3303 Latin American Politics (3)
CPO 3403 Politics of the Middle East (3)
CPO 3731 Comparative Democratization (3)
CPO 3760 Religion & Politics (3)
CPO 4062 Comparative Judicial Politics (3)
CPO 4514 Asian Politics (3)
CPO 4774 The Politics of Extremism (3)
CPO 4930 Special Topics Comp Politics (3)
INR 4061 International Armed Conflicts (3)
INR 4075 International Human Rights (3)
INR 4303 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)
INR 4333 International Security (3)
INR 4502 International Organizations (3)
INR 4703 International Political Econ (3)
INR 4930 Special Topics Intl Relations (3)
POT 3075 Culture and Politics (3)
POT 3303 Ideology & Propaganda (3)
POT 4514 Theories of Political Violence (3)
PUP 4206 Int'l Environmental Policy (3)
Law and Politics Concentration
Select 12 credits from the following elective courses. A minimum of 6 credits must be selected from the concentration’s POS-prefix courses.
CPO 4062 Comparative Judicial Politics (3)
CPO 4774 The Politics of Extremism (3)
INR 4075 International Human Rights (3)
INR 4502 International Organizations (3)
PAD 4603 Administrative Law (3)
POS 3175 Southern Politics & Civ Rights (3)
POS 3283 Judicial Process (3)
POS 3691 Law, Politics, and Society (3)
POS 4070 Race, Ethnicity, & Politics (3)
POS 4284 Politics of the Judiciary (3)
POS 4604 Con Law-Civil Liberties (3)
POS 4614 Con Law-Institutional Powers (3)
PUP 4206 Int'l Environmental Policy (3) - University Requirements (3 credits)
IDS 3920 University Colloquium (3) - Additional Electives - as needed to reach total credits required for the degree
Total Credits Required: 120
